SPOKANE, Wash. -- With its brand new home nearly complete, the city of Spokane has set May 12 as opening day for the Looff Carrousel at Riverfront Park.
The carousel’s rebirth comes after over a year of construction on a new building to house the attraction.
On Thursday, media members were given a preview of the 1909 carousel and its new structure. Improvements include a concessions stand, party rooms and large windows overlooking Riverfront Park.
“You see all the glass that really opens up and gives you the feeling like you’re riding outside,” said Parks Director Leroy Eadie of the large windows.
The building is also climate controlled, allowing the old wood carvings on the carousel to be property protected. The carousel’s former building, first built as a beer garden during Expo ’74, contributed to the carousel’s degradation, according to the city.
The carousel, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, features over 50 carved horses and other animals. Its first rebirth occurred in 1975 following Expo ’74.
The new building is the result of a 2014 bond passed by voters in an effort to revitalize Riverfront Park. Eadie said that the project has remained “on time and on budget.”
“This has really been a community effort, to bring this project through,” said Eadie. "There was discussion at one point of possibly relocating the carousel to a different part of the park."
"Community input swayed leaders to leave the carrousel in the same spot.This is really the home of the carrousel and it makes a lot of sense it’s in this location," he said.
Community members are invited to attend a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on May 12. Spring hours for the carousel will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Prices for rides remain unchanged at $2.